Surgical speculum



Dec. 25, 1951 L. B. NEWMAN SURGICAL SPECULUM Filed Jan. 2e, 194e 2 SHEETS- SHEET 1 Dec. 25, 1951 L. B. NEWMAN SURGICAL sPEcuLuM 2 srmETs-SHEET 2 Filed Jan. 26, 1946 Patented Dec. 25, 1951 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE SURGICAL sPEcULUM Louis B. Newman, Chicago, 111. Application January 2s, 1946, serial No. 643,529

This invention relates generally to a surgical Vinstrument used for observation of body cavities,

and particularly to a vaginal speculum, although the improved construction hereinafter described may be incorporated in'any instrument for viewing the body orifices, such as an anuscope, proctoscope, sigmoidoscope, laryngoscope, bronchoscope, or similar instrument.

Such instruments are often required to expose portions of the body requiring medical or surgical attention and to hold adjacent portions ci the body out of the way during medical or surgical treatment. Particularly inthe case of vaginal observation or treatment the adjacent tissues may fold into the path of an ordinary speculum and interfere with the proper insertion of the instrument as well as obscure the area of the vaginal vault or its contents requiring attention. A displaced cervix due to, abnormal positions of the uterus, adhesions or neoplasms may be extremely difficult to bring into proper view.

Another` defect inherent in the ordinary speculum is that the doctor may have to try several specula in succession until he finds one that is closest to the proper size. trying to the patient and may aggravate the condition of a nervous woman.

It is an object of my invention to provide simclaims. (o1. 12s- 3) This process is very 5 ple and eicient means for adjusting either or f both blades of a speculum so that a single instrument will be suiiioient to afford the proper exposure of the areas tobe observed or treated regardless of the shape or position of the various parts.

It is a further object of my invention to provide I means for adjusting portions of a surgical instrument while the instrument remains in proper position in any body oriiice and without causing irritation of the parts with which the instrument is in contact.

It is a further object of, my invention to provide simple and efficient means for facilitating the insertion of the speculum into theyagina any Eis required distance with a minimum of discomfort bodying my invention, with the blades shown in extended position in dotted lines;

Figure 2 is a top elevation showing thelower blade extended in dotted lines;

Figure 3 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing the speculum inserted into the vaginal vault indicated in dotted lines; I

Figure 4 is an end elevation;

Figure 5 'is a cross sectional view of lthe top blade, taken along the line 5--5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of a surgical instrument showing another embodiment of my invention; and

Figure 7 is an end view of the embodiment'of Figure 6.

In the drawing the reference numerals 2 and 3, respectively, indicate a lower and upper holding blade, hinged together, as indicated at 4 and 5j The lower blade 2 is provided with a iinger piece 6 to which an adjusting screw 'I is pei'- manently secured. The upper blade 3 is provided with a similar finger piece 8 which has an aperture (not shown) through which the adjusting screw projects. A nut 9 threaded on the screw 1 is operable to spread the blades 2 and 3 apart in the vagina and to hold them apart so as to expose parts requiring attention. The blade 3 comprises a shank portion II) curved convexly in its cross section and having its longitudinal edges turned inwardly to form flanges II and I2, as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings. The front end I3 `of the blade 3 is permanently secured to a supporting member I4 slidably mounted on the anges II and IZ. The supporting member I4 is curved to conform to the shank portion I0 so as not to obstruct the doctors view when the speculum is used. The rear end of the supporting member I4 terminates in a linger piece I5 which can be manipulated to slide the front end I3 of the upper blade forward independently of the shank portion IIJ.V The nnger piece I5 is preferably provided with a curled end I 6 to facilitate manipulation of the finger piece. The structure of the lower blade 2 is an exact duplicate of the upper blade, except that it is curved in the opposite direction, and need not be described in detail.

The operation of my improved speculum may be understood from a study of Figure 3. The speculum is inserted into the patients vaginal vault, indicated in dotted lines at II, Figure 3. The blades are then separated by turning the nut 9. The doctor may then look through the end of the speculum, and will be afforded a relatively large unobstructed field of vision, as indicated at I 8, Figure 4. If the parts requiring attention are not properly exposed the front end of either Y treatment is being applied to the proper areas.

The instrument illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 differs from the speculum of Figures 1V to 5 inclusive essentially in that the holding blades are not hinged. It is particularly designed to facilitate observation and application of medical or.

surgical procedures to surfaces, which do not require the spreading action of a speculum... The. instrument comprises a tubular shank portion I9 having a handle 2G projecting at an angle from one end. A plurality of pairs of parallel flanges Yor tracks 2|-22 are secured to the inner `surface ofthe tubular shank portion i9. The iianges maybe continuous throughout substantially the length of the shankor may be comparatively short and aligned longitudinally with other similar'flanges An adjustable holding blade 23 is slidably mounted in each pair of iianges. Although three blades are shown in the drawing it is obvious that this number maybe varied. Each holding blade is adapted to project beyond the entering end of the shank member' I9 and terminates in a finger piece 24: projecting beyondv the endA to which. the handle is secured. The linger piece 24. is provided with a curled end 25 and is curved to position its end beyond the circumference of the tubular shank so that it may be manipulated `without interfering with the doctors field. of

vision through the tube. As: in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, the holding blades 23 are independent of each other so that any blade may he adjusted longitudinally of the tubular shank i9 without affecting the position ofv any other blade'. Each blade 23 carries a finger piece 26 at the end thereof. The outer surface of each finger piece 2E isv flush with the outer surface of the tubular shank. I9 and smooth- 1y curved at its edges to facilitate movement of the lingerpiece lengthwise of the tubular shank l.9;. When this instrument is .in- Va body cavity' any one or-rnore of the fingers 26 may be pushed forward as may be necessary, to push tissue out of the' way, or for other purposes. Although I have described two preferred embodiments of my invention in detail, it will be understood that the description thereof is illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many details may be modified or changed without` departing from the spirit. orscope. vof my invention. Aeeordingly, Iv do not. desire to be restricted to the exact; details of construction described, except` as limited by the appended claims.

I claim: Y

l. AV speculuin comprising a pair of blades hinged together, eachof s aid; blades.V having. a

shank curved cross section andV a forward end movable longitudinally relative ta said shank,

Y portion, and terminating at the forward end thereof and separate means associated with the each forward end being carried. by a. supporting 65 member curved to conform to the. cross, sectional shape of theshank to. which it sslidably secured, each of saidsupporting members having a finger piece extending rearwardly of its blade to facilitate sliding movement of the supporting member,

and a pair of finger pieces extending rearwardly of each blade to facilitate relative longitudinal movement of said blades.

2. A surgical instrument comprising a tubular shank portion insertable into a body orifice, a plurality of holding blades extending along the inside of the tubular shank portion and mounted adjacent the inner surface of said tubular shank respective blades each for sliding the forward end of its; blade forward of the front of the shank and forward `of the other blades without disturbing the position of said instrument in said orice.

V3. VA. surgical instrument comprising a tubular shank portion insertable .into a body orifice, a plurality of pairs of longitudinally extending anges circumferentially disposed inside the tubular shank, a holding blade slidably mounted in each of said pairs of flanges and extending forward of the front of the tubular shank, and a finger piece projecting from each of said holding blades to facilitate longitudinal adjustment of said blades relative to said` shank.

4. A surgical instrument for positioning in an opening in the human body, said instrument having a longitudinally extending sight opening therethrough, means for changing the diameterV ofthe sight opening,v and means for changing the effective length of the sight opening comprising a projecting finger at the'forward end of the instrument. and movable. forwardly of the. rest of the. instrument,l means extending through the sight. opening` for supporting and moving the finger, andV means. slidably securing said. last named means. in said instrument.

5. A surgical instrument comprising a. tubular shank. portion insertable into a body orifice, a plurality of holding blades mounted adjacent the inner surface of said tubular shank portion and extending through the interior of the Vtubular` shank portion and terminating at the forward end thereof, and means for sliding the forward end ofv one of the blades forward ofthe forward end of the other blade.

Y LOUIS B. NEWMAN.

' REFERENCES CITED .i The following. references are of record in the le of this patent.:

UNITED STATES PATENTS.

OTHER REFERENCES CatalogV of.. J. P..Pi11ing and Son Co., Arch and 23rd;Streets, Philadelphiala` (1921).. A. copy is in Division 5.5of the Patent-Oflice. Pp. 84, instrument 4646; p. 89, instrument 5080-82-84; p.. 82, instrument 4464. Also p. 102, instrument 6440. 

